July 29th

Egypt: Abbas received American assurances ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 29, 2010 - 12:00am President Mahmoud Abbas has received American assurances over the future of the peace process with Israel, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said Thursday. Speaking to Egyptian TV Thursday morning, Abul Gheit said a series of letters from the American administration were "conveyed to the Palestinian side within the past few days." He said Arab officials were waiting for a Thursday afternoon meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas "to see what Abu Mazen [Abbas] will present." » Read more

The Palestinian conundrum on direct negotiations ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ibishblog by Hussein Ibish - (Blog) July 29, 2010 - 12:00am The PLO is now facing one of the most difficult problems it's had to deal with in quite a while, as it comes under very heavy pressure from the Obama administration and, as Pres. Abbas said at the African Union summit in Kampala two days ago, the “entire world” as well, to return to direct negotiations with Israel. For most people, although on two different sides of the equation, this is a no-brainer. » Read more

Mr. President, Don’t Pray for Anything You Really Don’t Want ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) July 29, 2010 - 12:00am Barack Obama's administration has been lobbying Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Arab governments hard to return to direct talks with Israel for the first time in several years. That decision could be made as early as Thursday, when the Arab League meets to discuss the matter. But Obama should very careful what he wishes for. One of the most enduring myths in the lore surrounding Arab-Israeli diplomacy is that direct negotiations provide the key to successful peacemaking. They don't. » Read more

Why a young Israeli woman spies on Israeli settlements in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Ben Lynfield - July 29, 2010 - 12:00am If Palestinians ever achieve the viable state to which they aspire, they will have a determined young Israeli activist to thank for its territory not being entirely swallowed by Israeli settlements. » Read more

Roadblocks continue to halt life in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 29, 2010 - 12:00am The road to the Al-Hadidiya village in the northeastern West Bank district of Tubas is dotted with boulders etched with a warning in Hebrew, Arabic, and English: “Danger - Open Fire Area.” The boulders arrived in February, positioned at the entrance to Palestinian villages, indicating that chunks of the Jordan Valley have become a closed military zone claimed by the Israeli army. They signal a further squeeze on the Bedouin communities in the area. » Read more

Why a young Israeli woman spies on Israeli settlements in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor by Ben Lynfield - July 29, 2010 - 12:00am If Palestinians ever achieve the viable state to which they aspire, they will have a determined young Israeli activist to thank for its territory not being entirely swallowed by Israeli settlements. » Read more

July 28th

6 Palestinians injured in clashes with Israeli settlers over house demolitions ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua July 28, 2010 - 12:00am Six Palestinians were injured and four others were arrested during clashes with Israeli police in East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, witnesses said. The witnesses said angry Palestinian young men threw stones at Israeli police and settlers who came to inspect a site where the municipality of Jerusalem is planning to build an entertainment place. The Israeli police used rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds, the witnesses added. » Read more

Egypt seizes 10 Gaza tunnels ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 28, 2010 - 12:00am Egyptian forces took control of 10 smuggling tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border area of Salah Ad-Din in Rafah on Wednesday and thwarted a cement-smuggling operation, a security source said. Forces seized a tunnel after receiving information on its location, the official told Ma'an. The tunnels were raided and 30 bags of cement were found inside. The smugglers fled the scene before security forces arrived. The cement, weighing approximately 1.5 tons, was confiscated. The tunnels will be demolished, the source said. » Read more

PNA to suffer financial crisis if donors continue not to pay, officials say ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua July 28, 2010 - 12:00am Palestinian officials said on Tuesday that the lack of Arab donations to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) this year might lead to a severe financial crisis in the upcoming months. Palestinian Labor Minister Ahmed Majdalani told Xinhua that Arab states have only paid 20 percent of what they have pledged to give in aid to the PNA. "Our Arab brothers are cutting off the financial supports when our European friends are honoring their pledges to financially boost the PNA," he said. » Read more

Fatah official: PA to disband government ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency July 28, 2010 - 12:00am The Ramallah-based government led by premier Salam Fayyad will be disbanded and a new Palestinian Authority cabinet will be formed next week, a high-ranking Fatah official said Tuesday. Fatah's parliament speaker Azzam Al-Ahmad told Ma'an radio that President Abbas would consult with Palestinian factions over the new structure of the PA. Fayyad or another politician will be tasked with forming a government, he said. » Read more